What can Connor Zary bring to the Calgary Flames? ‘He has some swagger’

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames need some youth and energy if they’re going to emerge from their season-opening struggles. The team’s latest call-up, 2020 first-round pick Connor Zary, could help in that regard.

The Flames recalled the 22-year-old Saskatoon native from the AHL on Tuesday morning in anticipation of Wednesday’s matchup against the Dallas Stars. If he plays, it will be his NHL debut and he’ll be the second player from the Flames’ 2020 draft class to make his NHL debut behind Ilya Solovyov. During Tuesday’s practice, he lined up alongside Nazem Kadri and Yegor Sharangovich. Almost a full 24 hours earlier, while enjoying a day off on his couch, Zary got the phone call from Flames assistant GM and Calgary Wranglers GM Brad Pascall that he was coming up to the big club.

“I think, as a kid playing hockey, that’s your dream phone call. So, it was pretty special to get that one,” Zary said.

“When I get my chance, when I get my opportunity, I just (need) to make the most of it. It’s going to be special no matter when it comes. I’m going to want to take it all in. But, at the same time, (I want to) make an impression and take advantage of that opportunity.”

While he didn’t make the Flames out of training camp this season, he has made the biggest impression of all of their potential call-ups. Zary has one goal and 10 points through his first six AHL games. He’s registered at least one point in each of those games, and had a four-assist night in a 7-6 overtime win over the Abbotsford Canucks last month.

“He had to find his one thing that separated him from other players,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said. “A lot of things for Zary comes down to the way he can make plays and see the game. I think you can see that by what he’s done in the American League so far.”

Zary has generally played centre but recently he’s spent time as a winger with the Wranglers. Head coach Trent Cull wanted to see if a combination of Zary with Cole Schwindt and Martin Pospisil would work. It has resulted in Zary carrying a significant portion of his team’s offence. The three players have combined for six goals and 19 points to start the season.

More importantly for Zary, the move to the wing hasn’t stopped him from being a playmaker and someone who can play in transition. He uses pace to kickstart rushes through the neutral zone, something the Flames have struggled with lately.

“He thinks it well,” Huska said. “I think that allows him to be in situations where he’s going to have the puck. So, when he’s playing with (Kadri), he’s a guy that has that same mindset. Because he thinks it well. So, he’ll be just fine.”

Zary has shown that he has some high-level skill, like his end-to-end goal during the AHL playoffs last season against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

His best goal of this year’s preseason came against the Winnipeg Jets where he pulled out the toe drag move shortly after a Flames power play expired.

Cull has noticed the youngster has been carrying himself with “bravado” and “confidence” thanks to his strong start.

“He has some swagger and I love that with guys that have that,” Cull said. “We want those guys to be confident. I think when you have that confidence that can spread to the other guys. Connor wants the puck and that’s what I think is a great thing. We want the puck to run through him on a lot of our plays. Especially five-on-five because we know he can create.”

With the Flames on a five-game losing streak, they could use some of that bravado and confidence in the lineup. Recent additions of young players have had a positive effect on the team. Jakob Pelletier’s infectious energy — hugging players and cracking jokes — has been missed so far this season. Meanwhile, the Flames were all smiles when Matthew Coronato scored his first NHL goal during their road trip a few weeks ago.

That a young player is going to get a chance to make a difference early is already the most distinct change from last season for the Flames.

“The nice thing about a guy like that coming up is maybe he gets a guy or two in our room that’s needing to find that confidence and that groove,” Flames forward Blake Coleman said. “Sometimes, it’s a little thing, but it can be a thing in the room. And confidence can be pretty contagious.”

The Flames might be in tough against a Stars team that has legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations. But at least they’re likely to start getting a proper look at a player who could play a big role in their future.

(Top photo of Connor Zary: James Carey Lauder / USA Today)